Discharger for pyrotechnic cartridges



EBUWUUQ 1mm. 5, 194-3.. ADELMAN DISCHARGER FOR PYROTECHNIC CARTRIDGES Filed Sept. 11, 1940 NEY INVENTOR A? thin" Aflalmtrn. BY

W y A R Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES 'l'hlhl'i' OFEECE DISCHARGER FOR PYROTECHNIC CARTRIDGES (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 4 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a discharger for pyrotechnic cartridges and the like.

Discha-rgers for signal cartridges which carry their own propelling charge usually comprise a holder or barrel for retaining the cartridge and a hammer or firing pin for striking the primer of the cartridge.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a discharger with a fixed firing pin and to include means for releasably holding a cartridge in spaced relation to the firing pin whereby it may set back under the influence of inertia and engage the firing pin when the discharger is suddenly arrested on impact with a relatively stationary object such as the ground.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved discharger;

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference the discharger comprises a barrel 5 having its breech end threaded into the socket of a base 6 and preferebaly engaging the floor 1 of the socket. The floor is formed centrally with a boss 8 for centering a cartridge 9. A firing pin l threadedly mounted in the base has its point I l protruding from the boss.

The cartridge 9 which is of the type carrying its own propelling charge is adapted to be dropped into the muzzle of the barrel and slides towards the base of its own weight until arrested after which it is pushed down in spaced relation to the firing pin. The arresting means may consist of any of the well known yielding devices which are commonly employed in shell fuses for holding a member against set-back. One form of arresting means is illustrated in the drawing and consists of a ball I! which is held against a seat l3 in the barrel and protrudes into the bore thereof. The ball is yieldingly held against its seat by any type of spring, that shown being a helical spring It which is disposed within a laterally projecting tube l fixed to the barrel. The spring is confined between the ball and a plug [6 threaded in the tube.

The base 6 is formed with a flange I! to provide an enlarged surface for engaging the ground and for supporting the hand of an operator grasping the barrel. A pair of brackets l8--l8 are provided on the barrel for the purpose of receiving a carrying strap.

In operation, the discharger is grasped near its breech with one hand and held in a substantially vertical position while a cartridge is dropped into the muzzle and pushed to the desired position to be held by the ball l2. The operator then brings his arm down forcibly until the base strikes the ground or some other relatively stationary object. The ball exerts sumcient pressure to hold the cartridge against the influence of inertia during the down stroke of the operators-arms but on impact of the barrel with the ground the cartridge sets back against the firing pin.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the detent instead of being carried by the barrel is carried by the cartridge and may be provided in the form of spring fingers l9 attached to the cartridge 20. These fingers may frictionally and yieldingly engage the bore of the barrel to normally hold the cartridge in a safe position. The spring fingers may be located either at the front, the rear or any position along the body of the signal. As a further prevention a recess or groove 2| may be provided in the barrel 22.

I claim:

1. A discharger for cartridges comprising a barrel having a closed breech end, a fixed firing pin in the breech end, a ball seated in the barrel in spaced relation to the firing pin, means for yieldingly maintaining the ball in position to protrude into the bore of the barrel to releasably hold a cartridge in spaced relation with the firing pin, said ball adapted to release the cartridge in the direction of the firing pin upon impact of the barrel with a relatively stationary body.

2. A discharger for cartridges comprising a barrel having a closed breech end, a fixed firing pin in the breech end, and yielding means for releasably holding a cartridge in the barrel in spaced relation to the firing pin, said holding means being constructed and arranged to be released by inertia of the cartridge held thereby upon impact of the barrel with a relatively stationary object.

3. A discharger for cartridges comprising a barrel having a closed breech end with a flange, a fixed firing pin in the breech end, and yielding means for releasably holding a cartridge in the barrel in spaced relation to the firing pin, said holding means being constructed and arranged to be released by inertia of the cartridge held thereby upon impact of the barrel with a relatively stationary object.

4. A discharger for cartridges comprising a barrel, a fixed firing pin in the barrel, and means for releasably holding a cartridge in spaced relation to the firing pin, said holding means being constructed and arranged to be released by inertia of the cartridge held thereby upon impact 5 of the barrel with a relatively stationary object.

ARTHUR ADELMAN. 

